Unique Birthstone Jewelry

Sapphire is the modern September birthstone and the gem designated
for the 5th, 23rd and 45th wedding anniversary; a star sapphire
is typically given on the 65th wedding anniversary. See other
September
birth stones: Traditional, Contemporary, Mystical,
Ancient, Zodiac Star signs and anniversary
gems.

Sapphire
is a variety of the mineral species corundum. Sapphires occur
in all colors of the rainbow with the exception of red, which
is ruby. The name corundum comes from the ancient Sanskrit
"kuruvindam", while the name "Sapphire"
comes from the Persian word "safir", meaning "beloved
of Saturn", (or Greek sapphiros). It is noted in several
texts that sapphire was the lapis lazuli of the ancient world,
probably because the stones both have the same intense blue
coloring. See jewelry
made with sapphire.

Sapphire is mined in Australia, Sri Lanka and Thailand. Other
producers are Burma, Kampuchea, Kenya and Tanzania. Sapphires
are commonly heated to improve their color and reduce cloudiness
that is caused by rutile inclusions. The rutile inclusions
are responsible for the "star" or "cat's eye"
in star sapphires.

Many gem scholars agree that the tradition of birthstones
arose from the Breastplate of Aaron described in the Bible
(Exodus 28, 15-30). The breastplate was a ceremonial religious
garment set with twelve gemstones that represented the twelve
tribes of Israel and corresponded with the twelve signs of
the zodiac and the twelve months of the year.